SUPP president says party belongs to people, not ‘towkay’ – Bernama

Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the party is rigorously transforming itself into a party that belongs to the common people and erasing the image that it is dominated by certain business tycoons or individuals.

He said the transformation would empower the people as every voice would be heard and their problems would be taken care of.

“This party no longer belongs to the ‘towkays’, so speak up,” he said, adding that he needed the help of the members to strengthen the party and fight for the people.

The cardiologist-turned-politician said every issue that affected the people would affect the SUPP and, as such, party members should not wait any longer but meet the people to listen to and solve their problems.

Dr Sim spoke at the installation of the SUPP Dudong Branch signboard at its premises in Jalan Aman, Sibu, today.

At the event, he praised those who remained loyal to the party despite not getting any "kantau" (monetary gain) from the party.

“I myself have no business contracts, no timber licence. The senatorship that I have is not for me but for the party to talk for the people in the Dewan Negara,” he said.

Earlier, Dudong Branch chairman Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck reminisced about the '60s, '70s and '80s and said the party then belonged to the common people of Sarawak.

“Then came the companies and rich people to dominate the party in the '90s where it was difficult for the common people to become leaders. This will not happen again and leaders no longer work for themselves but for the party and the people,” he said.

He urged the branch members to close ranks and work hard to win back the Dudong state seat from the opposition in the 11th state election, due in June next year.

Internal bickering in SUPP had caused a split, whereby its deputy secretary-general and Bawang Assan state assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh; Jerip Susil (Bengoh); Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnichal Rayong (Engkilili) left the party to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) in May last year. They, however, left Teras and registered a new party called the United People’s Party (UPP) two months later. – January 4, 2015.